Clamping tool

ABSTRACT

A tool is provided, that is adapted to be engaged in the hand of the user, and which has a depressable portion, which actuates jaws adapted for internal engagement of a member. The tool is particularly useful for reaching into automobile engines and the like, and working loose and removing valve tappets, and then lifting the tappets up through the engine, with the jaws or grips of the tool in engagement internally of the tappets.

United States Patent McFarland et al.

[151 3,654,686 [451 Apr. 11, 1972 [54] CLAMPING TOOL [72] Inventors:Frederick R. McFarland; Walter L. Diffenderfer, both of Lancaster, Pa.

{73] Assignee: K-D Manufacturing Company, Lancaster,

[22] Filed: Dec. 8, 1969 [21] Appl. No.: 883,212

[52] U.S. Cl ..29/280, 294/19, 29/282 [51] Int. Cl. ..B25b 27/14, A47b13/06 [58] Field of Search ..29/272, 278, 280, 282; 294/19, 294/29, 31,93-95; 269/47, 48.1, 233, 157; 81/72 [56] References Cited UNITED STATESPATENTS 1,851,116 3/1932 Spiro ..294/95 2,575,561 11/1951 Payne ..294/193,084,893 4/1963 Ruth ...269/233 X 2,623,489 12/1952 Wester PrimaryExaminer-Andrew R. Juhasz Assistant Examiner-Leon Gilden Attorney-Paul &Paul ABSTRACT A tool is provided, that is adapted to be engaged in thehand of the user, and which has a depressable portion, which actuatesjaws adapted for internal engagement of a member. The tool isparticularly useful for reaching into automobile engines and the like,and working loose and removing valve tappets, and then lifting thetappets up through the engine, with the jaws or grips of the tool inengagement internally of the tappets.

4 Claims, 4 Drawing Figures PATENTEDAPR 11 I972 SHEET 1 [IF 2 INVENTORSFrederick R. McFarland BY Wolrer L. Diffenderfer Wv M ATTORNEYS.

CLAMPING TOOL BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION In many industries,particularly in the automotive industry, it periodically becomesnecessary to disassemble engines. In the course of such disassembly, itis often desirable to remove hydraulic valve lifters, or hydraulictappets, in that such often become covered with varnish or foreignmaterial and tend to stick or become secured within their receivingbores, and in such a manner that the cams that are adapted to lift thevalves cannot do so in the intended manner. Thus, if the tappet isprevented by means of varnish or other foreign material from movingthroughout its full stroke, the valve rods that are driven by thetappets also fail to traverse their full stroke, and accordingly thevalve opening and closing does not function in the intended manner. Theresult is generally engine malfunctron.

Because of the location of valve lifters and tappets, their removal hasin the past been an expensive and time consuming job. With increasedlabor costs, in many instances removal for cleaning and replacementpurposes of lifters and tappets has been economically prohibitive.

Some tools have been developed that have been effective to a verylimited degree in assisting the removal of valve lifters and tappets,but for the most part, such tools have not functioned in such a manneras to provide sufficient gripping capabilities when operated from anarea remote with respect to the engine, in that it has been necessary toinsert such tools into the engine for gripping of the tappets at alocation substantially removed from the point at which force is appliedto the tool. Also, besides the generally limited overall tool design ofprior art devices, generally they require both hands for actuation,thereby limiting the freedom and working conditions of the mechanic.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention is directed towardproviding a tool that may be used by a mechanic, for the purpose ofloosening and removing valve lifters and tappets from an engine, withthe tool being adapted for insertion into the engine with or withoutremoval of the manifold, and with the tool further being adapted for useand operation by one hand of the mechanic, but yet being adapted toexert sufficient forces on the components being removed for loosening ofthe same. Also, the tool is generally elongated for access to thecomponents being removed.

Accordingly, it is a primary object of this invention to provide anelongated tool that is adapted to exert sufficient pressures for removalof machine components by gripping the same internally and exertingsufficient pressure thereon for ease of removal.

It is a further object of this invention to provide a tool of the typedescribed immediately above, which may be applied for removal of valvelifters and tappets, and which may be utilized by a single hand of amechanic or the like.

It is a further object of this invention to provide a tool utilizing aspring-biased camming mechanism for exertion of sufficient forces tofirmly grip components desired to be loosened and/or removed.

Other objects and advantages of the present invention will be readilyapparent to one skilled in the art from a reading of the following briefdescription of the drawing figures, the detailed description of thepreferred embodiment, and the appended claims. While the removal ofvalve lifters and tappets is demonstrated throughout this application asbeing a preferred use of the invention described herein, it will berecognized that this invention will have utility in other environmentsalso, wherein similar types of removal difficulties are presented, towhich the tool of this invention is readily adapted.

IN THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a top perspective view of the tool of thisinvention, being illustrated in a manner in which the same is used toreach into an engine, to engage and remove a tappet therefrom, withportions of an engine being illustrated broken away in phantom, forpresentation of the manner of use of the tool of this invention.

FIG. 2 is a side elevational view of the tool of this invention, withthe grip and clamping portions thereof being illustrated in both fulllines and phantom positions, for illustrations of both relaxed andclamping positions of the tool, respectively.

FIG. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary longitudinal sectional view of thetool of this invention, taken generally along the line IIIIII of FIG. 2,and wherein the sliding arrangements of the various components are moreclearly illustrated.

FIG. 4 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view of a portion of thetool of this invention, taken generally along the line IV-IV of FIG. 3,and wherein the clamping engagement of the clamping elements of the toolof this invention is clearly illustrated, in the released and clampingpositions of the elements illustrated respectively in full line andphantom positions, and wherein a portion of a valve tappet isillustrated in phantom, for the purpose of setting the environment ofthe tool of this invention.

Referring now to the drawings in detail, reference is first made to FIG.1, wherein there is illustrated the tool of this invention, generallydesignated by the numeral 10. The tool 10 includes a first longitudinalarm or member 11 and a second longitudinal arm or member 12, disposedagainst one another, and slidable relative to each other in accordancewith the operation of the tool 10. The member 11 includes a slotted hole13 at an upper-most end thereof, as viewed in FIG. 3, with the rivet 14also passing through a hole 15 in the uppermost end of the member 12, inconnecting relation, with the rivet 14 also passing through appropriateholes 16 and 17, respectively, in opposite sides 18 and 20,respectively, of a finger grip 21.

A palm-engaging knob 22 is provided, in press-fit relation, or otherwisesuitably adhered or secured to the upper-most end of the member 11.

The opposite sides 18 and 20 of the grip 21 have laterally offsetportions 23, 24, 25 and 26, which are brought together as illustrated inFIG. 1, and are welded or otherwise secured together, as at 27 and 28,by means of spot welds or the like, with adjacent pairs 23, 24, and 25,26 of the laterally off-set portions forming finger-gripping ears onopposite sides of the tool 10 for manual engagement by the hand of auser.

Another rivet 30 is secured at the lower-most ends of the grip members18 and 20, also passing through a slotted hole 31 in the member 11, andthrough a generally circular hole 32 in the member 12, in a mannergenerally similar to the arrangement described above for the rivet 14,such that, the grip 21 is securely held for sliding engagement relativeto the member 11, and for, upon engagement by the fingers of a user,facilitating the sliding engagement of the arm or member 12, relative tothe member 11, an amount determined by the length of the slotted holes13 and 31.

A helical wound spring 33 is provided, with its lower end as viewed inFIG. 1, bottomed on the upper edges of the grip sides 18 and 20, andwith its upper end in engagement against a shoulder 34 of the knob 22.

The lower-most ends of the members 11 and 12, are off-set from eachother, to define a recess 35 therebetween, as viewed in FIGS. 1 and 3. Arivet 36, or like connecting member extends through a hole 37 in themember 11, passes across the recess 35, and extends through a slottedhole 38 in the off-set portion of the member 12, being secured in asuitable manner in such disposition by a washer 40, or the like, forsliding engagement of the member 12 relative to the rivet 36, when themember 12 is moved longitudinally in the direction of the arrow 41,relative to the member 11.

Another rivet or like connecting member 42, is provided at thelower-most end of the arm or member 12, passing through a circular holeor the like 43 therein, across the recess 35, and being connected with asuitable washer 44, through a slotted hole 45 in the member 11, forsecure connection of the rivet 42 to the lower-most end of the member12, and for sliding engagement of the rivet 42 within the slotted hole45 of the member 11.

Thus, the rivet 37 is fixed relative to the first longitudinal member11, but the rivet 42 is slidable relative to the longitudinal member 11.

A pair of clamping elements 46 and 47 are disposed within the recess 35,these elements 46 and 47 being substantially identical in construction.Both members 46 and 47 are pivotally mounted at their upper-most ends,as viewed in the drawings, to be pivotally rotatable about the rivet 36.

The clamping element 47, is best illustrated in FIG. 4, as including aslotted hole 48, obliquely disposed relative to the longitudinaldisposition of the members 11 and 12, and relative to a plane transverseto a general longitudinal disposition of such members 11 and 12, suchslotted hole 48 thereby extending at an upwardly directed angle asviewed in FIG. 4, also extending somewhat rightward, as viewed in FIG.4. The element 47 is also provided with a leftwardly directed lip 50, asviewed in FIG. 4. The rivet 42 passes through the slotted hole 48, inthe manner illustrated in FIG. 4.

The element 46 contains a slotted hole 51, through which the rivet 42also passes. A lip 52 protrudes in a rightward direction at thelower-most end of the element 46, as viewed in FIG. 4.

Upon engagement of the grip 21, and movement of the same upwardly,against the downward biasing action of the resilient spring 33, and uponupward movement of the longitudinal member 12, relative to the member11, the rivet is also moved upwardly, and becomes a drive member whichengages within the slotted holes 48 and 51 of the respective elements 47and 46 at a location closer to the lips 50 and 52 than to the rivet 36,as illustrated in FIG. 4, and cams the elements 46 and 47 between thefull line position illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 4, to the phantom linepositions illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 4, such that the lips 52 and 50 ofthe elements 46 and 47 respectively, are driven laterally outwardly,away from each other, as the elements 46 and 47 are caused by thecam-like action of the rivet 42 within the camming slots 47 and 51 topivot the elements 46 and 47 about the rivet 36.

As the elements 46 and 47 are pivoted outwardly, the lips 52 and 50,respectively thereof, are adapted to internally engage a member, such asthe valve tappet 55, by clampingly engaging at opposite side portions ofa blind bore or the like 56 thereof, as viewed in FIGS. 1 and 4 and thusaccomplish the force-applying objective set forth in the objects above.

The tool 10 of this invention may thus be inserted into an engine 57 orthe like, through a valve rod opening 58, for removal of valve tappets55, with or without removal of the engine manifold as desired. In thismanner, by spreading the elements 46 and 47 of the tool, under pressureapplied by the hand of a mechanic or the like with his fingers engagingthe grip 21 and with his palm over the knob 22, the desired pressure maybe applied through the element lips 52 and 50, for twisting the tappets55 backwardly and forwardly, with a rotary motion, or by pulling thesame upwardly and downwardly to loosen the tappets 55 for removal of thesame.

It will be apparent from the foregoing, that various modifications maybe made in the details of construction, as well as in the areas of useof the tool 10 of this invention, all within the spirit and scope of theinvention as recited in the appended claims.

We claim:

1. A tool for internally engaging machine elements and the like inclamping relation from a location remote from the location oftoolactuation, comprising a first longitudinal elongated member, asecond longitudinal elongated member disposed for longitudinal movementrelative to said first member, manual gripping means on said secondmember for manual engagement for facilitating its longitudinal movement,connecting means carried by said first member, two clamping elements,each mounted for pivotally sliding on said connecting means, lips onsaid each of said clamping elements, and cam means on each of saidelements, cam drive means carried by said second member at a locationremote from said manual gripping means and located closer to said lipsthan to said connecting means to provide means for maximizing forcesapplied through said clamping element lips for engaging said cam meansand driving said elements pivotally relative to each other, with theirrespective lips laterally away from each other, wherein said first andsecond members are spaced apart relative to each other at their endsclosest to said clamping elements, with said clamping elements beingdisposed in sandwiched relation therebetween.

2. The tool of claim 1, wherein said cam means comprise slotted holesdisposed obliquely relative to the longitudinal disposition of saidmembers and relative to the lateral direction of movement of said lips,and wherein said drive means comprises a pin means carried by saidsecond member and disposed through each of said slotted holes.

3. The tool of claim 1, wherein said gripping means is spring-biasedtoward said elements by a spring and is movable in opposition to saidspring for relative lateral outward movement of said clamping means toarticle-engaging position.

4. The tool of claim 1, wherein a palm-engaging knob is disposed on anend of said first member remote from from said clamping means.

1. A tool for internally engaging machine elements and the like inclamping relation from a location remote from the location of toolactuation, comprising a first longitudinal elongated member, a secondlongitudinal elongated member disposed for longitudinal movementrelative to said first member, manual gripping means on said secondmember for manual engagement for facilitating its longitudinal movement,connecting means carried by said first member, two clamping elements,each mounted for pivotally sliding on said connecting means, lips onsaid each of said clamping elements, and cam means on each of saidelements, cam drive means carried by said second member at a locationremote from said manual gripping means and located closer to said lipsthan to said connecting means to provide means for maximizing forcesapplied through said clamping element lips for engaging said cam meansand driving said elements pivotally relative to each other, with theirrespective lips laterally away from each other, wherein said first andsecond members are spaced apart relative to each other at their endsclosest to said clamping elements, with said clamping elements beingdisposed in sandwiched relation therebetween.
 2. The tool of claim 1,wherein said cam means comprise slotted holes disposed obliquelyrelative to the longitudinal disposition of said members and relative tothe lateral direction of movement of said lips, and wherein said drivemeans comprises a pin means carried by said second member and disposedthrough each of said slotted holes.
 3. The tool of claim 1, wherein saidgripping means is spring-biased toward said elements by a spring and ismovable in opposition to said spring for relative lateral outwardmovement of said clamping means to article-engaging position.
 4. Thetool of claim 1, wherein a palm-engaging knob is disposed on an end ofsaid first member remote from from said clamping means.